Barite accumulation, ocean productivity, and Sr/Ba in barite across the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 2007 Barite accumulation, ocean productivity, and Sr/Ba in barite across the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum A. Paytan; A. Paytan 1Institute of Marine Science, University of California–Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. Averyt; K. Averyt 2Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group I Support Unit, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. Faul; K. Faul 3Environmental Sciences, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, California 94613, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. Gray; E. Gray 4Geological and Environmental Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar E. Thomas E. Thomas 5Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, USA, and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information A. Paytan 1Institute of Marine Science, University of California–Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA K. Averyt 2Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group I Support Unit, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA K. Faul 3Environmental Sciences, Mills College, 5000 MacArthur Boulevard, Oakland, California 94613, USA E. Gray 4Geological and Environmental Science Department, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA E. Thomas 5Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, USA, and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 08 Jun 2007 Revision Received: 27 Jul 2007 Accepted: 06 Aug 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 The Geological Society of America, Inc. Geology (2007) 35 (12): 1139–1142. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24162A.1 Article history Received: 08 Jun 2007 Revision Received: 27 Jul 2007 Accepted: 06 Aug 2007 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation A. Paytan, K. Averyt, K. Faul, E. Gray, E. Thomas; Barite accumulation, ocean productivity, and Sr/Ba in barite across the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum. Geology 2007;; 35 (12): 1139–1142. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24162A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), ca. 55 Ma, was a period of extreme global warming caused by rapid emission of greenhouse gases. It is unknown what ended this episode of greenhouse warming, but high oceanic export productivity over thousands of years (as indicated by high accumulation rates of barium, Ba) may have been a factor in ending this warm period by carbon sequestration. However, Ba has a short oceanic residence time (∼10 k.y.), so a prolonged global increase in Ba accumulation rates requires an increase in input of Ba to the ocean, increasing barite saturation. We use a novel proxy for barite saturation (Sr/Ba in marine barite) to demonstrate that the seawater saturation state with respect to barite did not change across the PETM. The observations of increased barite burial, no change in saturation, and the short residence time can be reconciled if Ba burial decreased at continental margin and shelf sites due to widespread occurrence of suboxic conditions, leading to Ba release into the water column, combined with increased biological export production at some pelagic sites, resulting in Ba sink reorganization. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.